Reversible bookcase



Jan. 22 {1924. 1,481,640

1 I .J. J. HUPPERT HEVERS IBLE BOOKCASE Filed Oct. 26 1922 Patented Jan. 22, 1924.

I n i 'E'ES JOSEPH J. HUPPERT, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

REVERSIBLE BOOKCASE.

Application filed October 26, 1922.' Seria1 No. 597,200.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Josnrn J. HUPPERT, a citizen of Austria, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Bookcases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bookcases, medicine chests and shelved closets in general, having for an object the provision of a novel type of case having front and rear compartments to receive the books, medicines and the like, a further specific object relating to the provision of a novel type of door.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

i of the drawings is a rear view of my improved bookcase.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bookcase.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view 30 of the corner bearing on which the bookcase is adapted to swing.

My improved bookcase is of the general rectangular shape, but is of extra dimension from front to rear thereof, the bookcase being indicated generally by the reference number 10. Suitably fixed to the side walls 11 of the case are pairs of strips 12 the respective strips of each pair being located near the front and rear faces of the case and having their relatively adjacent vertical edges formed with notches or serrations to adjustably support the shelves 13. Fixed to these shelves, midway between their front and rear edges, are longitudinal partitions 14 dividing the case into front and rear compartments. The front of the bookcase may be closed either by an ordinary hinged pair of doors such as indicated at 15 in Figs. 1 and 2. The back may be closed by a flexible vertically sliding door 17 adapted to wind on, and unwind from, a roller 18 mounted in a bottom compartment 19 in the bookcase.

To enable the rear face of the bookcase which is normally adjacent a Wall such as 20, to be readily reached I mount the book case as follows: Fixed to one of the rear corners of the bottom thereof is a plate 21 from which a pintle 22 projects downwardly into a socket member 23 resting on the floor,

while pairs of rollers 24: are mounted on the bookcase under the bottom 10' thereof at the other three corners. Anti-friction bearings 25 may be interposed between the pintle 22 and socket member 23. I preferably provide means whereby the sliding door is automatically opened as the case is swung outwardly from the wall for access to the rear shelves, and closed when it is again swung against the wall.

As here shown a pair of cords or ropes 4C5 are connected to thetop edge of the door 17, one at each end thereof, and are led upwardly around pulleys tG mounted in the upper end of the bookcase and then downwardly to wind on a drum 4'? which is supported in a bracket 48 carried by and under the bookcase, the drum axis extending radially with respect to the bearing socket 23.- To this socket 523 is fixed a quadrantal bevel gear l engaged by a pinion 50 fixed co-axially to the'drum 47.

As the bookcase swings outwardly on the bearing 23 the pinion 50 is caused to rotate, allowing the cords 4L5 to wind off the drum and the door to open, it being understood that roller 18 is provided with the usual spring member which acts to pull the door 17 open when the latter is freed. When the bookcase is again swung inwardly the cords a5 are pulled and raise the door to closed position.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my improved book case it is understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed, and the right is reserved to its use for medicine chests and to all shelved closets in general, and to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows l. A bookcase having front and rear book compartments, and front and rear doors for closing said compartments, the rear door being flexible and adapted to slide vertically to open and close, a bearing supporting said bookcase at one corner thereof and upon which said bookcase is adapted to swin an element adapted to be automatically rotated as the bookcase swings on the said bearing, and operative connections between said element and said rear door whereby the latter is caused to move vertically as the former rotates.

2. In a case, a bearing at one corner on which the case is adapted to swing, a slid-- ing rear door, an element adapted to be automatically rotated as the bookcase swings on the said bearing, and operative connections between said element and said rear door whereby the latter is caused to move vertically as the former rotates.

3. In a bookcase, a hearing at one corner on which the case is adapted to swing, a sliding rear door, and means whereby said rear door is caused to slide as the bookcase swings on said bearing, comprising a bevel gear segment fixed to said bearing, a pinion meshing with said segment, a drum fixed to said pinion, and cords connected to said door and adapted to wind on the drum.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

DR. JOSEPH J. HUPPERT. 

